ROCKINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT
School Board Meeting
April 20, 2009
Present: Joseph Brissette, Timothy Doherty, Michael Empey, Charlie Jarras, James McAuliffe
Also Present: Johanna Harpster, Christopher Kibbe, Sharon Reynolds, Andrea Allbee, Parks Place: Barbara Ternes, Nancy McAuliffe, Bill Stevens, Linda James; FACT-TV
MINUTES
Charlie Jarras, Chair, called the meeting to order at 7 PM.
Pledge of Allegiance: Led by Tim Doherty.
Adjustments to the Agenda: Chris Kibbe added a legal matter to Executive Session.
Review and Approve Minutes of April 6 and 10, 2009: Jim moved to approve the Minutes; Mike seconded. Jim asked that the Minutes of the April 8th non-meeting which was improperly warned be incorporated as an addendum to the April 10th Minutes. Jim amended his motion to wait for the addendum to the April 10th Minutes; the motion carried and the April 6, 2009 Minutes were approved as printed.
Visitors:
Parks Place Presentation: Barbara Ternes explained they were invited by Charlie to come and discuss the schools’ use of the Parks Place facility. She gave a short background of Parks Place and the programs and services offered there. Rockingham’s fee is $2,100 and is in the budget. The Board has no problem paying for Rockingham’s use, but the not the High School’s or Regional Standard Board’s. The Board asked Administration to determine if $2,100 is still an appropriate amount, to review the existing Memo of Understanding, and to check on the installment payment, and report to the Board.
Communications – Chair: None.
7. Committee and Other Projects:
Article 6 Study Committee: The next meeting is rescheduled to April 27th at 5 to 6:45 PM, at which they will be addressing the Westminster, BFUHS, and Athens/Grafton Boards and explaining options.
WNESU Unapproved 3/25/09 Minutes: The next meeting is April 29th. Jim said according to VSBA you can send a substitute but they can’t vote. This will be discussed at the next SU Board meeting, and also Jim will bring up whether those meetings can and should be televised.
Reports:
Financial: Andrea reviewed Budget Revenue and said the deficit is now $104,576.81. She took questions from Jim, who then said the deficit is $129,000. He stated the deficit is rising as we speak and Administration must be diligent and allow only absolutely necessary expenditures. Jim moved that the Business Manager revise the 2010 budget to reflect recently approved cuts and have it available at the May 4th School Board meeting so the Board can prepare for the public meeting on May 11th and re-vote on May 12th. Mike seconded and the motion carried. There was also considerable discussion of health insurance.
Superintendent of Schools: Johanna handed out the 2009-2010 school calendar and talked about school recess and coordination with other schools’ tech centers. She talked about Act 82 and has sent her comments to our legislators about modifying it concerning the two votes and a high school completion bill. Chris talked about Title 1 and Title 2D funding and briefly explained Title money and supplanting.
Principals: Enclosed.
WNESU: Above.
Unfinished Business:
Plan for May 12, 2009 Vote: Joe thinks people don’t understand the second vote, and he would like to have a public relations campaign to educate voters and get them out to vote, perhaps with a flyer sent home from school, handed out at Recycle, the Post Office, etc. Jim will write up the information and Administration will turn it into a flyer. Charlie suggested a public service announcement on FACTV, and Administration will prepare one and also notify newspapers.
Jim noted that none of the teachers who declined to contribute 1% of their salary showed up tonight to talk about why (it is school vacation). He would like them to come to the May 4th Board meeting to discuss it.
New Business:
Early Retirement Incentive Discussion: Johanna confirmed with the Board that this is not being offered.
Action Items: Mike reviewed the list for update and disposition. Saxtons River School construction defects: The Board wants Administration concerned with the oil spill but also with the construction defects. Audit: Andrea will find out the cost of having the auditor come and meet with the Board.
Appointments and/or Resignations:
Appointment of Cocurricular Contracts: David Groenewold – Assistant Baseball Coach and Jarrod James – Head Baseball Coach: Jim moved to table both appointments due to budget constraints. After salary discussion, Jim moved to authorize their hiring at Step Zero. Mike seconded and the motion carried.
Directors’ Comments: Mike applauded the Middle School on their spring concert and thanked them for their hospitality.
Joe read from the orientation packet for new board members concerning devoting time to education. He feels budget items are important but would like to have budget meetings separate from board meetings. People aren’t sending their children to the Middle School because they see it as ineffective, and the Board needs to be spending time on what is working and what isn’t. He asked that this be placed on the next meeting agenda. Joe said to TV viewers “Vote Yes on May 12th!”.
Jim said according to VSBA, Rockingham is required to publish a report card for the Middle School. Chris said they do and it’s called a School Report. Maybe it could be put on the website to provide public access to it.
Set Date and Location of Next Meeting: The next regular meeting will be May 4, 2009 at Saxtons River Elementary School at 7 PM.
Executive Session: Jim moved to go into executive session at 9:25 PM for contract matters, a personnel matter and a legal matter. Tim seconded and the motion carried. The Board came out of executive session at 10:02 PM.
Jim McAuliffe moved to deny the request of Stacey Libby. There was no second, so the motion failed. Mike Empey moved to permit Stacey Libby to code her absence as an Extended Leave with Pay per 13.5 of the Association Agreement. Joe Brissette seconded the motion. Brissette and Empey voted yes with Jarras and McAuliffe voting no. Doherty abstained. The motion failed. No additional action was taken.
Adjournment: There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 10:05 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Timothy Doherty, Clerk
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